Podcast & Study Available: Human Sexuality – Gift and Trust Reconsideration Process
Posted: July 14, 2026The ELCA task force reconsidering a section of the social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust has released new resources to help congregations learn, reflect, and provide feedback. A five-episode podcast, Learn […]
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Your Matter Matters, a Podcast
Posted:Your Matter Matters is a limited-series podcast hosted by ELCA Lutheran pastors Will Rose and Thomas Johnston that explores the relationship between faith and science, encouraging conversation rather than conflict. Through […]
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3,000 Bottles of Gatorade
Posted:“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me… and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40, 42)
During announcements this past Sunday at St. John’s, Baroda, my mind was pulled back to this Gospel reading from two weeks ago. The congregation that morning was told that recently they had partnered with a local migrant ministry group to give out 3,000 bottles of Gatorade at local camps of seasonal agriculture workers. 3,000 bottles of Gatorade — in these days when we are hitting in the 90s that is a welcome gift to those who are laboring in the sun. Many parts of our synod are prime fruit growing regions and other parts great for growing standard crops. Often the care for and harvesting of those crops depends on seasonal workers who are willing to do this work.
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Gratitude Lunches/Dinner on a Doorknob: St. Paul, Alpena
Posted: July 7, 2026One of the many ways St. Paul Lutheran Church lives out its faith is through its Gratitude Lunches and Dinner on a Doorknob ministry. Gratitude Lunches offer more than a meal. These lunches provide an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and a simple expression of thanks to businesses and non-profits in the wider Alpena community.
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Unusual Farming Methods
Posted:This coming Sunday, we will hear Jesus tell us the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23). The Sower in the parable uses farming methods that seem strange to us — just letting the seeds fly! Seventy-five percent of his seed stock is being thrown away on bad soil.
There are more than a few people in his time, who called Jesus a fool. There were many respectable people who saw Jesus wasting his time, wasting God’s Word on people who were “bad soil,” not worth God’s time of day: prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors and so on. It was believed that such people had already condemned themselves. They had already separated themselves from God’s love; why in the world would Jesus bother himself with them?
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For the Fruit of All Creation
Posted: June 30, 2026“For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.
For these gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping, thanks be to God.”
(ELW 679 “For the Fruit of All Creation”)
These are Michigan strawberries, grown along “The Ridge” in Kent County. The Ridge is a special geographical feature that makes this high area, with just the right soil and proximity to Lake Michigan, some of the best fruit-growing land in the country.
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Lady Liberty and God’s Welcome
Posted: June 23, 2026To see Lady Liberty in person is inspiring. Looking up from the ferry that was taking us to Liberty Island, I was in awe of not only how beautiful the Statue of Liberty is but also how strong and hopeful and welcoming Lady Liberty appeared. We took our time to admire the statue from a variety of angles and then went underneath to view the small museum. It was there that I found the plaque bearing the words that had been running through my mind as we sailed toward the island:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Lifted
Posted: June 16, 2026Last summer on our family vacation, we were zipping along I-90 in Upstate New York on our way from Niagara Falls to Ottawa, Canada, when a brown road sign called out to us, “Women’s Rights National Historic Park Next Exit.” Those two words, “National Park,” have a strong pull upon our family and this was gift to our day — a National Park just off the next exit!
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Wild Church
Posted: June 9, 2026This is a photo of Lake Huron taken from the St. Paul Lutheran’s picnic grounds, Alpena. It’s about as Pure Michigan as it gets! Although summer does not begin until June 21, that has not stopped us from switching into summer mode. Gardens are planted, boats are now in the lake, pools are filled, and plans are being made to take some time to recreate outside. A sunny, 75-degree Michigan day is our reward for shoveling wet snow back in February!
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Persistence
Posted: June 2, 2026The friendship began with the kids bringing me dead cicadas. I’m not sure why they thought I would be interested and I hoped they weren’t killing the bugs for my benefit. My mind quickly went to work figuring out how I was going to re-direct my two new-found Honduran friends. Our synod team was at a national park in Honduras holding a first aid training for the local health workers in our companion synod. I had stepped outside because I was not on the agenda for some time, and I had work to do to get ready for synod assembly.
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